Considering Downsizing

[Dr. DaveJPS]

Arrgh am having a conundrum, considering chopping in my KTM950SM for a DRZ400

Reasoning is this;
since i got a car i don't really need a motorway mile muncher (though touring would be nice)
i fancy doing some offroad (by getting a second set of wheels)
i don't really want a hardcore SM/offroader as one unreliable bike is enough (dommie)
with not needing to ride all year i may as well save some cash with lower insurance and tax.

but... will the capacity/power drop be too much?
so BCF views/opinions?
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"intelligent inattention is preferable to unintelligent tinkering"
www.davejps.com

[pinkyfloyd]

I've been riding around on a 750 and a nice little NC30 came up in a mechanic friend of mines garage. I showed interest and they turned me off as it would be too big a drop for me to like it. I'd miss the power of the bigger bike.

I think dropping from a 950 to a 400 is a massive jump down, personally I would go for a 600/650cc if you are determind to drop down. It would be cheaper to drop down from a 600cc onto a 400 after a while than it would be to go from a 400 to a 600 because it is too small.

I think that makes sense.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Spit-Fire]

what about a ktm 650 sm?
would be a half way house
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they say the good die young... i say we just live faster

[iooi]

[drzsta]

the drz is bulletproof when it comes to reliability - something you would expect to come out of the the warsaw pact back in the cold war but the power drop is MASSIVE!

but if you can look beyond power figures then the drz is a do-it-all bike.
they're loads of mods you can do to the drz to make it a real sweet ride with about 50 + hp, 3x3 mod, jd jet kit, mrd ssw exhaust, yoshi int/ext cams with maybe a 440 big bore kit.

i would say the drz is as capable as the rider is.


no substitute for a test ride though!
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Current Bikes - BMW S1000RR ‘17 & KTM 690 SMC-R ‘12

[drzsta]

[G]

[Spit-Fire]

[craigs23]

Give one a go, see what you think.

Might not be for you, might turn out to be the best decision ever.

There's more to biking than bhp figures and performance specs.

[G]

Yep, the 690 is 654cc - about £4500 minimum for an Enduro/SMC. Mine has mostly been used for 6000 or so miles of touring, but has also managed a Hare and Hounds enduro, as well as plenty of other types of riding.

I'd definitely suggest giving it a go first - it's not for everyone.

[Dr. DaveJPS]

you see the 690's whilst nice almost all are worth more than a 2005 SM so kind of defeats the point of saving cash.

might have to book a test ride.
Thanks for the advice.
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"intelligent inattention is preferable to unintelligent tinkering"
www.davejps.com

[G]

To my mind, the DRZ400SM is still a bit over priced too - thus suggesting the Husky, which can often be got for similar money with pretty much everything better spec .

You can often get some decently priced XR400 conversion with both sets of wheels. A bit less power, but even lighter than the DRZ. A DR600 is also worth considering - I bought a half-converted one for £600 or so; about the same power and weight as the DRZ400, but more midrange, though no electric boot.

[Dr. DaveJPS]

aye but Huskys in my mind are a hand-grenade with two wheels attached at either end (probably not true but is my perception of them) also are harder to find 1 on ebay, and none within 60miles of me.
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"intelligent inattention is preferable to unintelligent tinkering"
www.davejps.com

[G]

Same as the KTMs - they have a competition range and a more road-biased range.

My KTM competition 2 stroke enduro has, I'd say, been more reliable than my DRZ engined bike - but I suspect that is more of a 'blip' than a trend.

[drzsta]

[G]

Actually I've owned three KTMs and not had any big problems with any (well, we shall see, but the 690 is still under warranty ), but as I say, I do expect in general the DRZ lump is more reliable over all.